Communication

NCC Establishes Digital Industrial Park in Ogun

By Web News 446

By Adebola Ajayi

The Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC has established a Digital Industrial Park in Ogun State as part of the federal government’s efforts to  enhance digital innovation for youth empowerment and inclusive economic growth.

President Bola Tinubu while inaugurating the Park in Abeokuta said about one trillion dollars had been committed to strengthening the sector to realize the country’s goal of becoming a global leader in digital infrastructure, talent development and innovation.

President Tinubu who was represented by the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani said the facility would increase the nation’s investments towards nurturing the teeming Nigerian youths in fiber optics, AI frameworks and technological talent pipelines. 

The President promised that the Digital Industrial Park would be a solution – driven inclusive digital economy platform for the people of Abeokuta, Ogun State and Nigeria.

In a remark, Governor Dapo Abiodun said the establishment of the Park was outcome of successful collaborations between the Federal and State governments in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu’s administration, and commended various partners and stakeholders that made the project a success.

Executive Secretary of the NCC, Dr Aminu Waida affirmed that the Park was fully equipped with computer laboratories, smart networking systems, and collaborative workspaces coupled with skilled technical and managerial personnel that would assist digital innovators and entrepreneurs in developing their ideas into tangible products and prototypes.

Dr Waida listed the prospective beneficiaries to include students enrolled in industrial training and part-time apprenticeship programs, adding that apart from Ogun the NCC was implementing the project in Kano, Borno and Enugu States.

Students from selected secondary schools were tutored on Information and Communications Technology, ICT, during the event to test – run the facilities as witnessed by dignitaries, including the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Aremu Gbadebo, notable political leaders and people from different walks of life. 

News

FG Targets 20000 Megawatts by 2027

By Web News 485

By Adenitan Akinola

The Federal Government is targeting the generation and operational use of twenty thousand megawatts of electricity before the end of the first tenure of the President Tinubu led administration.

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu gave the indication during a working visit to the National Control Center,NCC,.in Osogbo, the Capital of Osun State.

Chief Adelabu explained that eighty percent of the twenty thousand megawatts projected would be from the national grid, while the remaining would accrue from off-grid power generation sources, including solar and renewable energy which are also currently in operation in the country.

He added that Nigeria was equally anticipating a mid term power generation of 30,000 megawatts from the national grid by 2030 and 60,000 megawatts by 2060.

The Minister who agreed that the Nigeria power generation and distribution required much improvement, particularly in the era of technological advancement said the sector need huge investment for a turn around, adding that the renewed Hope administration of president Bola Tinubu was committed to ensuring that the nation achieve stable power supply.

“The entire sector requires a lot of investment. Nigeria’s budget cannot be enough for all that we need which is why we are thanking our various partners. We have partners who are also supporting us and we cannot afford to disappoint them because they are putting down money and they want to see what we are doing.”

The Minister expressed displeasure with what he called forceful shot down of the national control centre facility during the last two days warning strike declared by the Nigeria Labour Congress, saying such attitude constitute threat to national security and the interest of the ordinary Nigerians which the Labour unions said they were defending.

Chief Adelabu appealed to Labour unions and all Nigerians that no matter what the circumstances are, nothing must push citizens to deliberately destroy their national assets.”

“I’m not against industrial actions, it is part of labour relations but when we are doing it, we must be conscious of what is our collective asset. Industrial actions will be resolved whether we like it or not but in the course of the action, what have we destroyed? Vandalizing assets in the control centre is an economic crime that must be so treated. We need to talk to ourselves.”

In a remark, the Vice Chairman of the Association of Senior Staff Union of Allied Electricity Workers, Mr Ladeji Olatunji urged the federal government to consider the urgent need for training and retraining of the workforce of the power sector to make them compliant with global trend in electricity management.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the Transition Company of Nigeria, Alhaji Sule AbdulAzeez who alongside the General Manager of the NCC conducted the Minister round the operations of the Control center, thanked him for the visit ana pleaded with him to push for the improved investment in Hi-Tech innovation for the center and power generation in the country generally.

The National Electricity Control Center (NCC), Osogbo is responsible for all TCN Grid Operations, Monitoring and Control within the Transmission network, moving electricity around the country from where it is generated to where it is needed.

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Education

Muslim Model College Student Emerges Winner of NCC Writing Competition

By Web News 959

By Oluseyi Olarinde 

A student of the Muslim Model College, Ibadan, Miss Firdaous Ojutalayo has emerged the overall winner of the National Creative Writing Competition organized by the Nigerian Copyright Commission, NCC.

The maiden edition of the National Creative Writing Competition initiated by the Nigerian Copyright Commission was organized for the Secondary Schools students across the federation.

Speaking during the presentation of award of excellence to miss Ojutalayo who came first in the competition, the Director General, NCC, Dr John Asein explained that the programme tagged catch them young, was put together to discover new talents and encourage creativity among the students.

The NCC DG who was Represented by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs , who is also the coordinator of the 2023 National Creative Writing Competition, Mrs Ijeoma Egbunike, said the 3 categories of the competition which included Essay writing, Poem, and short stories received over 700 entries from all over the country.

The State Coordinator, Nigerian Copyright Commission Ibadan office, Mrs Olabisi Ogundiran, who encouraged other students to improve on their studies and create passion for creative writing called on them to desist from patronizing pirated books describing the act as a killer of creativity.

Chairman , Governing board of the Muslim Model College, who is also a retired staff of Radio Nigeria Ibadan zonal station, Alhaji Kola Animasaun called on the students to be abreast of happenings around them by listening to Radio and watching television.

Principal of the College, Mrs Olabisi Alao charged the students to be hardworking and improve themselves on a daily basis 

The winner, Miss Firdaous Ojutalayo said contesting for the competition was a challenging one, advising her colleagues to improve themselves in research and their studies.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission had earlier presented books to the school library and also presented a plaque and a laptop to Miss Ojutalayo.

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Telecommunication

NCC Sensitizes Consumers on Fraudsters Activities

By Web News 844

By Mosope Kehinde

Market men and women at Araromi motor spare part, Agodi Ibadan have urged the Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC to sustain it’s sensitization Campaign on possible ways of  identifying activities of fraudsters on mobile phones.

They made the call in Ibadan at a sensitization programme tagged “Shine your eyes – No Fall Mugu” third in the series of customers awareness campaign of the NCC this month.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, President of Ibadan Motor Parts Dealers Association, Mr Olanrewaju Ishola who gave kudos to the commission for bringing such educative program to the market, said the initiative would continue to make positive impact on Telecom subscriber.

Earlier, head of consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, Mr Ayobamiji Ojo stressed the need to monitor the telecommunication industry as the commission has received over twenty thousand fraud related complaints.

He said telecom consumers should approach their network providers to resolve their complaints, saying if unresolved, customers should approach the commission by dialling 622 toll-free number.

Communication

NCC Pledges Engaging Subscribers for Better Service Delivery

By Web News 959

By Mosope Kehinde

For better service delivery to Nigerians, the Board Chairman, of the Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, Professor Adeolu Akande has promised the commission’s determination to continue to engage more telecom subscribers.

He made this known while delivering an address at the University of Ibadan during the second day of the NCC engagement with students and market men and women.

Represented by an assistant director, Mrs Afure Iloka, Professor Akande said one of the mandates of the commission was the Protection of the rights and interests of Consumers which he said can only be achieved when consumers were well informed.

The NCC boss explained that with the complaints from telecom consumers on the depletion of the internet data, the NCC, through the Consumer Affairs Bureau had embarked on several sensitization exercises to educate them on the various ways to manage data.

“The Commission is inundated with frequent complaints from the telecom consumers on the depletion of their internet data which is why the Nigerian Communications Commissions (NCC) through the Consumer Affairs Bureau (CAB) has embarked on this sensitization exercise to educate telecom consumers on the various ways to manage internet data.”

Earlier, the Head of the Consumer Affairs Bureau, Mr Ayanbanji Ojo counseled Nigerians to take advantage of the various channels of NCC feedback to complain about any mobile network disservice.

Mr Ojo while speaking on the theme “Data depletion issues: tips on data usage for better quality of experience” told telecom subscribers to call a toll-free number, 622, for any complaint and dial 2442 to block unsolicited messages.

Some of the students commended NCC for the sensitization program, appealing for better monitoring of network providers.

Recall that The NCC had earlier met with traders at Bodija International Market, Ibadan to counsel them on the proper usage of data and call units.

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Communication

NCC Issues Red Alert Over Unauthorized Mobile Applications

By Web News 690

The Nigerian Communications Commission has warned Nigerians to stay away from mobile applications from the ‘Mobile Apps Group’.

According to the commission, the group had been discovered to release apps containing Trojans and adware that were harmful to users and their privacy.

The NCC-CSIRT stated this in an advisory on Tuesday.

It said, “The Nigeria Computer Emergency Response Team, ngCERT, has continued to observe and monitor the constant introduction of malicious mobile applications into Google Play Store.

“Mobile apps Group has a history of distributing malware-infected apps through the Google Play store, and the current batch of apps has already been downloaded over a million times.”

It stated that the group’s malicious apps included: Bluetooth Auto Connect; Bluetooth App Sender; Driver: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB; and Mobile transfer: smart switch.

It further disclosed that the malicious activities of these apps were high in probability and potential to do damage.

The NCC-CSIRT disclosed, “The apps will delay the display of ads for up to three days after installation to avoid detection.

“However, once this period has passed, the user is bombarded with advertisements and is directed to malicious phishing websites in the Chrome browser. While the device is idle, the malicious app can open Chrome tabs in the background. Some of the sites it opens may appear to be harmless, but they are pay-per-click pages that generate revenue for the developers when clicked on.”

It explained that the consequences of installing the malicious apps included the user being bombarded with advertisements, theft of sensitive user data, clicking on the ads resulting in the stealth download or installation of additional malware, as well as the user privacy and data being jeopardised.

Punch/Taiwo Akinola

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Telecommunication

NCC warns Nigerians Against Hackers Unlocking Cars

By Web News 505

Nigerian Communications Commission has warned Nigerians against hackers, who unlock and steal cars due to the cyber-vulnerability of such cars.

According to the NCC, the ongoing cyber-vulnerability allows a nearby hacker to unlock vehicles, start their engines wirelessly and steal the cars.

The NCC gave this warning in a statement on Sunday signed by its Director, Public Affairs, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde.

The statement read in part, “The Nigerian Communications Commission is alerting telecom consumers and members of the public on an ongoing cyber-vulnerability that allows a nearby hacker to unlock vehicles, start their engines wirelessly and make away with the cars.

“The fact that car remotes are categorized as short-range devices that make use of radio frequency to lock and unlock cars informed the need for the Commission to alert the general public on this emergent danger, where hackers take advantage to unlock and start a compromised car.

“According to the latest advisory released by the Computer Security Incident Response Team, the cybersecurity centre for the telecom sector established by the NCC, the vulnerability is a Man-in-the-Middle attack or, more specifically, a replay attack in which an attacker intercepts the RF signals normally sent from a remote key fob to the car, manipulates these signals, and re-sends them later to unlock the car at will.”It was disclosed that this cyber-vulnerability has been found in some Honda and Acura car models.

The NCC-CSIRT advised vulnerable car users to reset their key fob at the dealership or store their key fobs in signal-blocking ‘Faraday pouches’ when not in use. It was also recommended that car owners choose Passive Keyless Entry as opposed to Remote Keyless Entry, which would make it harder for an attacker to read the signal for any nefarious act.

The NCC also warned Nigerians about the resurgence of Joker Trojan-Infected Android Apps on the Google Play Store, which can lead to a compromised device.

In this regard, the NCC warned Android users to avoid downloading unnecessary apps or installing apps from unofficial sources.

The NCC also advised that apps installed from the Google Play Store are heavily scrutinized by reading reviews, assessing the developers, checking the terms of use, and only granting the necessary permissions.

The commission also recommended that unauthorised transactions should be checked against any installed app, and any apps not in use should be deleted while ensuring that a device is always patched and updated to the latest software.

Punch/Olaolu Fawole

Telecommunication

BREAKING: FG Directs Telcos to Bar Outgoing Calls on Unlinked Lines from Monday

By Web News 629

The Federal Government has commended Nigerians for complying with the NIN-SIM linkage, while also directing telecommunications companies to bar outgoing calls on unlinked lines from Monday, 4th April, 2022.

Radio Nigeria Ibadan reports that this was made known in a statement signed by Director, Public Affairs, NCC Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, and Head, Corporate Communications, NIMC, Kayode Adegoke .

The statement discloses that the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, on behalf of the Federal Government, gave the directive to Telcos.

Pantami commended Nigerians and Legal Residents for their support during the exercise to link National Identification Number (NIN) to the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM).

He disclosed that over 125 Million SIMs have had their NINs submitted for immediate linkage, verification and authentication, adding that the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has issued over 78 Million unique NINs till date.

Noting that the deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage has been extended on multiple occasions to allow Nigerians to freely comply with the Policy, Pantami said the Federal Government also took into consideration the passionate appeals by several bodies – Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Civil Societies, Professional Bodies and a host of others – for the extension of the deadlines in the past.

He said: “Mr. President graciously approved the many requests to extend deadlines for the NIN-SIM linkage.

At this point however, Government has determined that the NIN-SIM Policy implementation can proceed, as machinery has already been put in place to ensure compliance by citizens and legal residents.

The implementation impacts on Government’s strategic planning, particularly in the areas of security and socio-economic projections.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the implementation of the Policy with effect from the 4th of April, 2022. Consequently, the Federal Government has directed all Telcos to strictly enforce the Policy on all SIMs issued (existing and new) in Nigeria.

Outgoing calls will subsequently be barred for telephone lines that have not complied with the NIN-SIM linkage Policy from the 4th of April, 2022.

“Subscribers of such lines are hereby advised to link their SIMs to their NINs before the Telcos can lift the restriction on their lines.

Affected individuals are hereby advised to register for their NINs at designated centers and thereafter link the NINs to their SIMs through the channels provided by NIMC and the Telcos, including the NIMC mobile App.”

The Minister emphasized that enrolment for the NIN is a continuous exercise and NIN is a precondition for service in Telcos, banks, Nigerian Immigration Service, and for several other government services.

He also encouraged Nigerians and legal residents to visit NIN registration centers for the enrollment and issuance of valid NINs.

NCC FB Page/Olaolu Fawole

Education

Pantami Advocates New Set Of Literacy Skills To Improve Education

By Web News 665

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Musa Pantani has said the Development and Adoption of the Digital Nigeria Center, DNC in secondary schools is one of the initiatives for articulating the implementation of Digital Literary Skills.

This he identified as the pillar two of the eight pillars National Digital Economy policy and strategy, a ten-year blueprint for actualizing Federal government Digital Economy agenda unveiled in 2019.

Professor Pantani stated this at Ijesa Muslims Grammar School, Ilesa Osun State during the inauguration of the Digital Nigeria Center, DNC, a school-based ICT centre.

Represented by Chairman, Board of Commissioners,  NCC, Professor Adeolu Akande, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy said “Indeed, the overarching objective of this project executed by the NCC’s companion-department, the Universal Service Provision Fund, USPF, is to facilitate the adoption of digital lifestyle in the schools as well as in the school communities”

Professor Pantani argued that by the reckoning of scholars aggregated in a 2018 UNESCO Report, the basic functional skills required to make basic use of digital devices and online applications, are widely considered a critical component of a new set of literacy skills in the digital era, complemented by traditional reading, writing, and numeracy skills.

Also speaking, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Communications Commission, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta explained that the Federal Government’s desire to ensure Nigerians harness all derivable benefits of the emergent digital culture made it imperative to rejig the governance process in the communications and digital economy sector.

Represented by the Director Project Department, Mrs Iyabode Solanke, the NCC Vice Chairman listed the components of the Digital Nigeria Centre, DNC, project to involve four (4) major components namely: ICT Tools component, Power component, Connectivity component, Non-ICT Tools component.

“At this Centre, the ICT Tools component is made up of 40 desktop computers with embedded operating systems, server, printer, projector with remote control, high-resolution scanner, and e-learning software. The Power components consist of an inverter that comes with its charger, solar panels, batteries and automatic changeover.”

He appreciated the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, ‘the son of the soil’, for ensuring that the project was located in Ilesa for the benefit of the students, staff and the community.

In a remark, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola described the project as a laudable initiative aimed at developing digital skills and literacy of youths in the Ilesa community and environs.

Ogbeni Aregbesola said the project was a testament to the commitment of the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, to deploying technology to better the citizens’ quality of life and experience.

The Governor of Osun State, Mr Adegboyega Oyetola who was represented by the Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr Babatunde Olawale also commended the federal government for its commitment to digitalizing the nation’s economy.

Mr Oyetola noted that his administration had done tremendously well in incorporating ICT into governance, schools and other sectors.

Adenitan Akinola

Telecommunication

NCC Deploys Broadband Infrastructure for Sectoral Investment Drive

By Web News 557

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC is pursuing a comprehensive deployment of broadband infrastructure to attract relevant investments for the transformation of other sectors of the economy through Information Communications Technology.

The Executive Vice Chairman, NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta gave the information while delivering a lecture at Fountain University, Osogbo, Osun State.

Professor Danbatta said the strategy to achieve the goal was youth-centred, hence, the introduction of various ICT youth empowerment initiatives to aid the creation of a digitally skilled workforce that would fit into the digital Economy project of Nigeria.

He listed some of the initiatives to include, Annual ICT innovation Competition and exhibition programme.

These programmes, covering health, community, productivity, economy and transportation are aimed at facilitating sustainable Digital Start-Ups under which a nine million naira research grant was awarded to three Nigerians with the most innovative digital solutions for containing pandemics and epidemics in the country.

 Others include ICT park project, National Essay Competition, Digital Awareness Programme and Advanced Digital appreciation programme for tertiary institutions.

The NCC Executive Vice Chairman encouraged Nigerian young graduates to develop themselves in the ICT ecosystem, particularly in Blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of things, Hyper-connectivity, Super Computing, Cloud computing, smarter world, cyber security.

Professor Danbatta noted that the market was huge as “4G connections will grow to 57%; 5G will have 1.8 billion connections; usage of smartphones will become 81% and; Internet users from 4.0 billion to 5 billion; and operator Revenues and investment from 1.4 trillion dollars to 1.15 trillion”.

The NCC boss who described Nigeria as Africa’s largest ICT market with 82% of the continent’s Telecoms subscribers and 29% of Internet usage, maintained that such was a big market for players in the sector.

He said an average of 6.7 uses of Social media platforms by a person each month in Nigeria provided huge opportunities for youths to own businesses in various areas.

Professor Danbatta gave assurance that effective high-speed Internet coverage would be available to at least 90% of the population by the year 2025 at a price less than 300 nairas.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Amidu Sanni had emphasized the need for effective policies to promote the development of information communication technology in Nigeria.

Professor Sanni charged Nigerian graduates that the basic knowledge of their areas of studies was not enough to secure jobs and make significant marks in emerging trends in the 21st century.

Adenitan Akinola

Yoruba

Àjọ NCC Sọpé Àbò Tó Péye Wà Lórí Atọna Ojú Òpó 5G Network

By Web News 826

Igbákejì alága àjọ tón rísétò ìbáraẹnisọ̀rọ̀ nílẹ̀ yíì, NCC, ọ̀jọ̀gbọ́n Umar Danbatta ti mú dáwọn ọmọ orílẹ̀èdè yíì lójú pé, àbò tó péye wà lórí àtọ̀nà ojú òpó tíwọ́n pè ní 5G network, èyí tíwọ́n ló yára ju 4G lọ.

Ó fọwọ́n ìdánilógú yíì sọ̀yà lákokò tó farahàn níwájú àgbáríjọpọ̀ ìgbìmọ̀ tẹkótó ilé asòfin àpapọ̀ tón rí sétò ibaraẹnisọrọ, láti kín àbá ètò ìsúná àjọ NCC, oní billiọnu ẹgbẹ̀ta ó lé diẹ lẹ́yìn tó wáyé nílu Abuja.

Ìgbésẹ̀ yíì lónise pẹ̀lú ìbẹ̀rù àwọn ọmọ ìgbìmọ̀ náà kan, lórí atọ́na ìmọ̀ ẹ̀rọ tuntun ọ̀hún.

Ọjọgbọn Danbatta tẹnumọ pé, 5G network tawiyii dara púpọ̀ fétò ọ̀rọ̀ ajé àtàmúgbóòrò ilẹ̀ Nàijírìa.

Fọlakẹmi Wojuade

Technology

NCC Warns Against “AbstractEmu” Android Malware

By Web News 925

The Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, has warned telecom consumers and the general public of a new Android malware.

The recently discovered malware, named “AbstractEmu”, can gain access to smartphones, control infected smartphones and silently modify device settings while simultaneously taking steps to evade detection.

A statement by the commission says the discovery was announced recently by the Nigerian Computer Emergency Response Team (ngCERT).

AbstractEmu has been found to be distributed via Google Playstore and third-party stores such as the Amazon Appstore and the Samsung Galaxy Store, as well as other lesser-known marketplaces like Aptoide and APKPure.

The commission in the statement advised users to be wary of installing unknown or unusual apps, and look out for malfunctions as they use their phones.

Olayemi Daniyan

Politics

Sen. Durojaye’s Death, A Great Loss To The Progressives – Governor Abiodun

By Web News 631

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has described the death of former Chairman of Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, and a leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye as a great loss to the progressives.

In a statement in Abeokuta, Governor Abiodun noted that the late senator was a political giant whose politics was devoid of bitterness during his lifetime.

Governor Abiodun lamented that Senator Durojaiye died when Ogun State and Nigeria needed his vast experience in politics and leadership.

The governor said apart from being a politician, Senator Durojaiye was also a community leader who loved his community and contributed immensely to the development of Ijebu-Igbo in Ijebu North Local Government and Ogun State in general.

While commiserating with the immediate family of the deceased, Governor Abiodun, prayed to God Almighty to forgive his shortcomings and grant his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Bolanle Adesida

News

APC senators reject electronic transmission of election results

By Web News 556

Members of the All Progressives Congress in the Senate on Thursday voted against electronic transmission of results.

The Committee had, in the report, recommended in Section 52(3) that, INEC “may transmit results of elections by electronic means where and when practicable.”

But an APC senator from Niger North, Sabi Abdullahi, amended the clause to read, “INEC may consider electronic collation of results, provided the national network coverage is adjudged to be adequate and secured by the Nigerian Communications Commission and approved by the National Assembly.”

Members of the Committee on Communications had earlier informed the chamber that the NCC had declared that only 43 per cent of the country was currently under effective telecommunications coverage.

Senate President, Ibrahim Lawan, ruled in favour of the amendment when he conducted a voice vote.

There was a disagreement and the Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe, called for a division which would require individual voting on the floor.

Lawan sustained Abaribe’s point of order and called for a division.

At the end of the poll, 88 senators voted, while 28 were not available to vote.

The outcome of the election showed that 52 APC senators, including the chairman of the Senate INEC committee, Kabiru Gaya, voted against the panel’s report, which gives the electoral umpire the sole power to determine the practicability of electronic transmission of results.

The Peoples Democratic Party members on the floor all voted in favour of electronic transmission of results by INEC without interference from either the NCC or the National Assembly.

The APC members, while casting their votes against the amendment, attributed their decision to the claim of the NCC that only 43 per cent of the country has network coverage.

The PDP senators, on the other hand, said allowing the NCC and the National Assembly to meddle in the affairs of INEC will affect the integrity of the polls.

Punch

Telecommunication

Ogun Government Aids Ease Of Doing Business In Telecom Industry

By Web News 718

Ogun State government has initiated plans to ensure the issuance of provisional permit to prospective telecommunication service providers within seven to fourteen days after the submission of applications for approval to commence work on site.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Tunji Odunlami made this known in Abeokuta, during a meeting with representatives from Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, and other major operators in the telecommunication industry in the state.

Mr Odunlami who described the provisional permit issued to prospective investors as a necessary requirement towards obtaining proper planning permit explained that provisional approval would allow investors to begin work on sites.

He implored investors to ensure Personal Income Tax of the consultants handling their projects was submitted alongside the application documents for approval processing, noting that delay does not come from the government but failure of investors/developers to perfect their documents.

Speaking on behalf of the Association of License Telecommunication Service Providers of Nigeria, Mr. Tochukwu Okafor appreciated the Ministry for the effort put in place at ensuring that provisional approval was issued for operation to kick-off the project, while other documents were being processed for final approval.

Segun Folarin

News

Making A Case For Improved Emergency Care For Accident Victims

By Web News 654

Globally, road traffic injuries is the leading cause of death among young people between the ages of fifteen and twenty years and among the top three causes of mortality among people between the ages of fifteen and forty-four years.

According to the World Health Organisation, W.H.O, African Region had the highest rate of fatalities from automobile injuries worldwide at over twenty-six per one hundred thousand population.

In Nigeria, injuries and deaths resulting from highway accident is on the rise and is the country’s third-leading cause of overall deaths, the leading cause of trauma-related deaths and the most common cause of disability.

Recently, the Minister Of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said over thirty five thousand people lose their lives annually to accidents due to lack of emergency medical services in the country.

Majority of these deaths can be avoided if physical access is provided, when there is primary health centre, a transport and first aid system and financial support are put in place to reduce deaths from accidents.

The situation is challenging as a result of poor traffic infrastructure, poor road design, poor enforcement of traffic rules and regulations, a rapidly growing population and increase in the number of people driving vehicles.

Survivors often endure a diminishing quality of life from deformities and disabilities, post traumatic stress and loss of personal income, in a country not well known for exceptional rehabilitation services.

According to the W.H.O, about 80 billion naira is lost to road accidents annually in the country and this economic cost includes the cost of property and public amenity damaged, the cost of medical treatment, and the cost of productivity. 

With the increasing burden of road traffic accidents on the world economy, the UN General Assembly in 2010 adopted a resolution which proclaimed a decade of action for road safety with the aim of stabilizing and reducing the increasing trend in road traffic fatalities, saving an estimated 5 million lives and guide countries to take concrete national level actions to achieve this goal.

It is in line with this that the Nigerian Minister of Health, said the federal government is coming up with the National Emergency Medical Service System in collaboration with private medical practitioners and the governments of the twenty-four states where the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC’s, 112 emergency call line was already in operation to render ambulance services and save lives.

Dr. Ehanire said the other states would join when the NCC call line had been installed in their areas, adding that, the pilot scheme would be launched in Abuja very soon.

It is pertinent for government at all levels to ensure that emergency call line is installed in all the states to reduce fatalities from road accidents while the necessary stakeholders should be equipped with modern first aid facilities to help save more lives in emergency cases.

Titilayo Kupoliyi

Yoruba

Ajo NCC Bere Owo Gbigba Lori Tete Tita

By Web News 723

Ajo to nrisi ibara enisoro nile yii, NCC, ti gunle eto ideyele owo, awon onileese ero ibanisoro yoo ma san lori lilo ero ibara eni soro lati fi seto iduna dura nile ifowopamo atawon ileese olookoowo min.

Ninu atejade toludari, f;oro tokan araalu lajo ncc, omowe Ikechukwu Ainde fi sita sope, ajo naa ko nu gbawa lowo awon ile-ifowopamo, fun tite awon number kan fise eto iduna-dura.

Ogbeni Adinde wa sodi mimo pe owo tawon ti n se okoowo tete yoo maa san ni million mewa fun iforukosile naira ati million mewa fun atunse iforukosile tawon to nibudo itaayo naa yoo si maa san egberun lona igba naira, fun iforukosile, ati gberun lona igba naira bakan fun atunse iforukosile ibudo won.

Net/Idogbe 

News Analysis

Implications Of The Deadline Of National Identification Number, NIN On Citizens

By Web News 1068

Recently, the federal government directed all telecommunication service providers to link all subscribers’ SIMs to their National Identification Numbers, NINs.

According to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, after the deadline, all SIMs without NINs are to be blocked from the networks.

Mr Pantami said this became imperative to consolidate the achievements of last year’s SIM registration audit and improve the performance and sanity of the sector.

The minister explained that urgent drastic measures became inevitable to improve the integrity and transparency of the SIM registration process.

No doubt, the government’s policy is laudable as the plan is predicated on the need to improve efforts to protect lives and property of citizens.

The socio-economic implications are also significant.

NIN registrations are currently concentrated in states with major cities.

People in rural and conflict-affected areas, the poor and internally displaced, and women are all less likely to have NIN.

Therefore, the Nigeria Communication Commission, NCC’s policy could end up taking away mobile connectivity from some of the most vulnerable people in society.

It behooves the NCC to fix the ease of registration as identified by the agency.

In February this year, the World Bank approved one hundred and fifteen million dollars in financing to support the NIMC’s efforts in establishing a national ID database with a target of raising total NIN enrolments to one hundred and forty-eight million people by July 2024.

According to the project appraisal document, NIMC will revise its approach to make the registration process more inclusive: by reducing the number of documents required, making offline registration possible and, most importantly, partnering with other agencies and mobile network operators to supplement national ID registration efforts.

Following through with the proposed changes would vastly improve the ease with which Nigerians can get a national ID.

Nigerians have to be properly sensitized on the new policy as only a few educated persons who are conversant with happenings about the country might have heard about this instruction.

Also, government need to take into cognisance the complaints of citizens, legislators, and Civil Society Organizations about the NIN/SIM registration.

This is coming at a time when the country is undergoing the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and state governments have begun another round of measures to stem the tide of the pandemic.

A visit to some of the offices of Nigerian Identity Management Commission, NIMC, showed that little or no attention is paid to the COVID-19 protocols as laid down by the government to reduce the spread of the disease.

It will be more beneficial for the government to ensure that conditions are created for a large number of Nigerians to be captured in the NIN registration to assist future national population census exercise in the country.

Rasheedah Makinde

Technology

Telecommunication Industry, A Major Factor Of Economic Growth – Prof. Dambatta

By Web News 678

The Nigerian Communication Commission, NCC, says the telecommunication industry has become an enabler of economic growth which touches all other sectors of the economy for improved operational efficiency.

The executive vice-chairman of the agency, Professor Garba Umar Danbatta stated this during the 41st Kano International Trade Fair organized by the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, held at the Trade Fair Complex, Zoo Road, Kano.

Professor Danbatta who was represented by the Director Public Affairs, Dr Ikechukwu Adinde maintained that the participation of NCC in the fair would provide an avenue to interact with Telecom consumers aimed at listening to their concerns on telecommunication service delivery in order to gain insight on how to improve the services of service providers in the country.

He explained that NCC employs modern techniques of tackling the challenges of cybercrime, e-fraud and other related crimes as part of efforts targeted at moving the nation forward.

Professor Danbatta added that NCC had facilitated the building and equipping of emergency communications centers in all the 36 states of the federation, and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

In a remark, the President of Kano Chamber Of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, KACIMMA, Alhaji Dalhatu Usman said the NCC plays a vital role in the aspect of promoting business in the country.

He commended the efforts of NCC for collaborating with KACIMMA and supporting the actualisation of the fortieth Kano International Trade Fair.

Abdullahi Jalaluddeen